The Tighten Ups are a 7-piece soul, funk, blues, rock band fronted by singer Laura Jane Willcock. In 2009, they were nominated for a San Diego Music Award as Best Cover/Tribute Band.

The group recruited a new guitarist in early 2012, Joey Harris (still fronting the Mentals), who began co-writing songs with Wilcox for the rock and soul band. In addition, “The band are learning some of my tunes,” said Harris at the time. “My song ‘Ridin’ was made for a horn section.”